74
THE KING’S BUSINESS
February 1932
-selves from its waters and rested by its side, just as Jesus did on the day of our lesson. In appearance the well is not radically different than the wells one sees on the older American and European farms. The diam eter of the well is about five feet. Around it a wall of natural rock is built to a height of about three feet and every day the native women could be seen drawing their water supply in earthenware vessels. From Galilee to Jerusalem For our next lesson, that of January 31, we must proceed still further northward to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This les son (John 6:1-13, 48-51) tells the story of Jesus feeding the multitude. The scene probably was on the northeastern slope of the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee, like the Dead Sea, is lower than the level of the Mediterranean, but unlike the larger body of water it is not excessively salty. The water is slightly brackish but nevertheless it is commonly used for drinking. The scene of this lesson is one of loveliness and beauty.
outskirts of the city to the southeast. On either side of the streets are low walls of stone by which the beggar guides himself. And as we dream, we will wonder if some of these very stones were not touched by His hands—if some of these walls did not pro vide a place for Him to rest during the heat of the day. Now we must leave the city again and fly on our wings of imagination into the coun tryside where the sheep still graze as they have for thousands of years. For although the lesson for February 21 (John 10:1-16) probably was spoken within the city, the parable will be made more, vivid by a visit to one of the flocks that shepherds still tend among the hills.
In the land today, even as in the time of our Lord, sheep are one of the most impor tant of the domestic animals. Among the rocks and hills and on the desert there is a comparatively l i m i t e d amount of food, even for these hardy animals. The
With a background of dark hills the multitude rests on the green velvet of the plains, the sea sparkling in the sunlight just as we see it today. Now we must retrace our steps to Jerusalem for the sixth lesson In Jericho, as in ail Palestine, women still sit before their doors and make bread as their ancestors have done for thousands of years.
From the hills, we look down upon Bethlehem before we enter it. The "Wise Men” followed this road nearly 2000 years ago. preserved. During our dream trip we shall visit them—a house of stone—a sepulchre of native rock. Their authenticity does not concern us. We know we are walking the very streets He walked—finding rest where He found it. We are visiting the village which was dear to Him.
Across thé Atlantic to the ever blue waters of the Mediterra nean our ship carnes us closer to "the land” and to Hiin.
good shepherd guides his flock to the fields of plenty. The indolent or ignor ant suffer their sheep to be lost. As we look at flocks the words“The Lord is my shepherd” will take a new sig nificance— for a shepherd in the land of the Bible either gives life or de stroys it. T o Bethany. Beyond the walls of Jerusalem to the southeast, lies the village of Bethany where Lazarus lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha. Our lesson for February 28 is one’ of the most beautiful in the entire gospel (John 11:32-44) and on our visit to Bethany it will seem as if time had turned back 2000 years and we too were among the witnesses to the greatest of His miracles. Bethany has changed little throughout the ages. Squat buildings of stone. A well centuries old, still supplies the water that women carry in
And now, once more we follow the wind ing road into Jerusalem, the scene of the last four lessons. We are about to reach the climax of our dream trip. Our lesson for-March 6 is found in John 13:1=15 and is the beautiful story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. As every one knows, this took place at the conclusion of the Lasf Supper. The traditional site of this event is marked today by the Tomb of David (a Mohammedan property) and it is visited each year by many thousands of Christians. But interesting though it is, the background we seek is not available at the site. We must seek an ancient home in Jerusalem so that we may see exactly the surroundings which existed on that day nearly 2000 years ago. We do not walk far before we reach a home or an inn which in general outline and structure is probably a counterpart of the
of the year—that of February 7. It is taken from John 8:31-36 and again we see Jesus in scholarly discussion with the Jews. These discussions may have taken place in the temple itself or possibly beneath the shade of one of the multitude of olive trees. As we wander through the city we shall see innum erable spots, all of which He visited, and any one of which may have been the exact spot where He said to the world, “The truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). As Jn all ancient cities, the streets of Jeru salem aire narrow and winding. Squat houses are- built close to both sides of the road. Travelers on foot, donkeys laden with all manner of: burdens, herds of sheep and goats, Cambls, and even modern motor cars wind their way through the streets. Ancient olive and- fig trees nod lazily and provide refresh ing shade for the wayfarers. Likewise the setting for the lesson of February 14 is within the city of Jerusalem. It is the story of the man born blind as told in John 9:1-11, 30-38, and as we visit Jeru salem it will be easy for us to picture the group on that memorable Sabbath morning. We will see the blind beggar groping toward the pool of Siloam which is located on the
earthen jars, just as did Mary and Martha when Jesus came to visit them. Flocks of sheep can be seen in the distance. The tinkle of camel bells herald the approach of a caravan, yet the village does not awaken. The caravans, like the years, will pass by Bethany. Today the village of Bethany is known by the Arabic name of El’ Azariyeh. About thirty families comprise the entire population, in spite of the fact that its location on the eastern slop of the Mount of Olives is an ideal one from many standpoints. In the time of Jesus the village probably was more prosperous and more thickly popu lated, as it was a favorite retreat not only for the Saviour but also
Crude plows drawn by many different kinds of animals are still used to till the land.
for many residents of Jerusalem. During the Mohammedan invasion much of the vil lage was destroyed, but it is claimed by many that the home of Mary and Martha as well as the sepulchre of Lazarus are still
one our Lord and His disciples honored. Like all the ancient houses of the city, it is built of stone except for the beams. On the roof are the distinctive domes with which all Christians have been familiar since story-
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